Court grants ACC plea to seize tax files of Awami League leader Hanif, wife

He faces allegations of suspicious transactions totalling Tk 8.66 billion

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and his wife Fauzia Alam.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Faiz passed the order on Monday following two separate petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said Riaz Hossain, a bench assistant at the court.

The ACC Deputy Director and investigating officer Mohammad Tajul Islam Bhuiyan sought the seizure of the documents to facilitate a thorough probe into the couple’s finances.

The graft buster said Hanif, while holding a government position, engaged in criminal misconduct and abused his power to amass assets worth over Tk 273.9 million beyond his known sources of income.

The anti-corruption watchdog clarified that the former MP is under scrutiny for "abnormal and suspicious transactions" totalling Tk 8.66 billion across 18 bank accounts.

Investigators noted that Tk 4.33 billion was deposited and Tk 4.33 billion withdrawn from these accounts, pointing to potential money laundering and efforts to conceal the illicit origins of the wealth.

The commission’s application against Fauzia alleges that she, in collusion with her husband, acquired assets worth Tk 46.9 million inconsistently with her legal income.

Officials said 16 bank accounts linked to her saw suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 331.3 million.

The ACC says the seizure of these tax files, spanning from their base year to the latest filings, is “essential” for the ongoing investigation.

According to the commission, preliminary evidence suggests the couple transferred and converted funds obtained through corruption during Hanif's tenure as the MP for Kushtia-3.